Grεεκ ε rα

1. Grεεκ εrα Βψ: Miriαm Barquεrα, Lαurα εscαlαntε, Mαdison Ridlεhubεr

2. Many people have misconceptions about the ancient Greek theatre. When ancient Greek theatre is referenced to, it normally means Greek theatre in Athens during the fifth century BCE. These early dramas did more that act a story. These were stylized dramas with meanings behind the obvious. Understanding a Greek play is only possible if the symbolic significance of the actions, actors, and stage is revealed. Ancient Greek theatre was a "... mixture of myth, legend, philosophy, social commentary, poetry, dance, music, public participation, and visual splendor." Thεαtre History

3. Athenians had an annual fertility festival in March with one week of public wine drinking and phallus, penis worshiping religious orgy. Their religious rite was performed as a dithyrambos, an ancient dance and chant to the fertility god, normally performed while drunk. It was performed outside in bowl-like craters. This festival celebrated the birth of the wine god, Dionysus and the great grapes that made the wine. This festival was performed yearly at four tribal festivals, called an orgia. It was also called the "Festival of the Wine Jugs" and "Old Dionysia," as stated by Cohen. The religious rites for these ceremonies were eventually written down in verse form and later became plays. Thεαtre History Pt. 2

4. An ancient Greek play consisted of three major parts. The play began with a prologue, a simple speech. Then, there was the entrance of the chorus. Finally, there were major episodes, scenes or acts, of the play. There were two major types of Greek plays. There was tragedy, which was derived from the word tragos and means goat. The other one was comedy, which was derived from the word odé and means song. A tragedy received its name from how it was performed. A tragedy had actors who wore goatskins and danced like goats. The best performers were given a kid goat at a prize. Thεαtre History Pt.3

5. Costumes The actors in ancient Greek theatre also have a symbolic significance in a Greek production. When Greek theatre began in a dithyrambous, there were no actors. The poet Thespis was the first to use actors; Aeschylos was the second, and Sophocles was the third. They originally called them hypocrit. The hypocrits were the leading characters. Those in the orchestra were the followers, most commonly know as the chorus. The hypocrits were always men. Female roles were played by males before they hit puberty and before their voices changed. The costumes in the ancient Greek theatre also have a symbolic significance in the way the production is understood. Since the hypocrits were all male, it was necessary to make them look female for female roles.

6. The costumes in the ancient Greek theatre also have a symbolic significance in the way the production is understood. Since the hypocrits were all male, it was necessary to make them look female for female roles. "In order to have a female appearance, they were playing wearing the ‘prosterniad’ before the chest and the ‘progastrida’ before the belly. In order to look taller and more impressive they were wearing ‘cothornous’ (wooden shoes with tall heels)" Costumes Pt. 2

7. Costumes have been a very important factor of the production, because they could determine the characters by gender or social status. In the early productions actors have been using body painting. Little by little they started using animal skins, ears, even feathers. Costumes Pt. 3

8. Playwright • The story of Oedipus was well known to Sophocles’ audience. Oedipus arrives at Thebes a stranger and finds the town under the curse of the Sphinx, who will not free the city unless her riddle is answered. Oedipus solves the riddle and, since the king has recently been murdered, becomes the king and marries the queen. In time, he comes to learn that he is actually a Theban, the king’s son, cast out of Thebes as a baby. He has killed his father and married his mother. Horrified, he blinds himself and leaves Thebes forever.

9. Playwright Pt. 2 • The story was not invented by Sophocles. Quite the opposite: the play’s most powerful effects often depend on the fact that the audience already knows the story. Since the first performance of Oedipus Rex, the story has fascinated critics just as it fascinated Sophocles.

10. Playwright Pt. 3 • Aristotle used this play and its plot as the supreme example of tragedy. Sigmund Freud famously based his theory of the “Oedipal Complex” on this story, claiming that every boy has a latent desire to kill his father and sleep with his mother. The story of Oedipus has given birth to innumerable fascinating variations, but we should not forget that this play is one of the variations, not the original story itself.

11. Food • Most meals were enjoyed in a courtyard near the home. Greek cooking equipment was small and light and could easily be set up there. On bright, sunny days, the women probably sheltered under a covered area of their courtyard, as the ancient Greeks believed a pale complexion was a sign of beauty. • Food in Ancient Greece consisted of grains, figs, wheat to make bread, barley, fruit, vegetables, breads, and cake. People in Ancient Greece also ate grapes, seafood of all kinds, and drank wine.

12. Food Pt.2 • Regardless of whether or not they were rich or poor, the cornerstone of the cuisine focused on three items. These are wine, wheat in the form of barley or millet, and olive oil. • The Greek, to begin with, never ate meat unless it had been sacrificed to a god, or had been hunted in the wild. They believed that it was wrong to kill and eat a tame, domesticated animal without sacrificing it to the gods.

13. Food Pt.3 • The food of Greek today consists of hommus dip, greek gyros, chicken oreganato, spanakopita, tiropita, greek salad (including feta & olives), and pita bread .

14. Grεεκ Gods & Goddesses • Zeus - King of the GodsHera - Queen of the GodsAphrodite - goddess of love and beautyApollo - god of light, truth, healing, archery, music, poetryAres - god of war Artemis - goddess of hunt, moon, children Athena - goddess of wisdom, war, patriotism and good citizenshipDemeter - goddess of grain, agriculture, fertilityDionysus - god of wine, vegetation, and theaterHades - god of the underworldHephaestus - god of forge and fireHermes - messenger of the gods, god of motion, travelers, commerce, thieves, and sheepHestia - goddess of the hearth and homePoseidon - god of the sea, earthquakes, and horses

15. Grεεκ Mythology • The concepts of soulmates arose from Greek mythology. According to the story, our ancestors once had 2 heads, 4 arms. They did something to offend a god so that god punished them by splitting them down the middle, resulting in the creation of humans. As a punishment, we are condemned to spend our lives searching for the other half, our soulmates. • The medusa was an ugly creature. Let's have a look at how she came into existance, for she wasn't always that ugly... Again, the Gods played their role. The Medusa was the daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaia (Earth) and Okeanos (Ocean). She was one of the three sisters known as the Gorgons. The other two sisters were Sthenno and Euryale. Medusa was the only mortal out of the three. She was once very beautiful and lived far in the north were the sun didn't visit. Being very curious, she wanted to see the sun, and asked the Goddess Athena for permission to visit the south. Athena refused to allow her to visit. The medusa got angry and dared to say that Athena hadn't given her permission because she was jealous of her beauty. that was it! Athena was angered and punished her by turning her hair into snakes and cursing her by making her so ugly that who ever looks at her eyes would turn into stone.

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